Untesils & Hand Tools

A bowl scraper is one of the most useful tools in the kitchen. It is flexible which lets you perfectly copy the inner part of any bowl and effectively scraps out contents. Thanks to its’ flexible body, it is great for more than that:

1. Useful for baking – easy manipulation of dough, batter, and pastry creams.
2. Assists with cutting dough – can replace a dough cutter for the majority of doughs
3. Useful for bread or buns preparation
4. Enables gathering and manipulating ingredients such as, meat and vegetables

Assists you in keeping countertops clean – more easily scrape up crusty foods

For scraping out of the bowl, you can partially replace a bowl scraper with a spatula, but a spatula will never give you the benefits and productivity of the large blade of the bowl scraper.

Since bowl scrapers are very inexpensive, I would encourage you to purchase a few to have them available anytime you need.

The minimum size that I recommend is 5 ¼” x 3 ½”– smaller are typically not as effective.

The best size is a slightly larger options, about 7 ½” x 4 ¾ “, which will provide you with a flat blade on one side and a nicely round blade on the other side. (The rounded side can perfectly copy the inner part of any mixing bowl).

Since a bowl scraper is very inexpensive, I would encourage you purchase a few to have them available anytime you need.

The selection of material is your choice, but selecting a professional grade will give you higher durability and a longer lifetime.

A box grater (also called a large grater) is a very useful and budget friendly tool that is perfect for hand shredding and grinding your ingredients. It can be used for cheeses, vegetables, chocolate, fruit and more.

If your budget allows, you can also purchase a kitchen mixer or food processor with grating and shredding attachments (read more here) which will be great for processing larger quantities. Even though I own both of them, I always like my box grater for its convenient size, easy cleaning, and because it does not need to be assembled.

For your household, you can use any handheld can opener that you like, which allows you to open the can quickly and safely. I would recommend using a crank can opener, which is fairly cheap, easy, quick, and safe to use.

This basic cookie cutter is round with a 2 ½” or 3” diameter and should be present in any kitchen.

You can buy basic round cutters, or you can buy a sturdier version that can be held with your whole hand and has a longer lifetime and even better durability than most cookie cutters.

Optionally, you can substitute out round cutter by using a glass, but it may slow your process.

It is good to have other shapes of cutters as well (especially for baking Christmas cookies with kids).

The selection of material is your choice, but selecting a sturdy, commercial grade cutter will give you higher durability and a longer lifetime.

A deep fry thermometer, sometimes referred to as a candy thermometer, is an essential tool for achieving perfectly fried foods. It allows you to precisely monitor the temperature of the oil, ensuring that your food cooks evenly and doesn’t burn or become greasy. These thermometers typically have a wide temperature range, from 100°F to 400°F, accommodating the high temperatures required for deep frying.

One of the major advantages of a deep fry thermometer is its affordability. They are readily available at most kitchen stores and online retailers at very reasonable prices, making them an accessible tool for home cooks.

It’s important to note that a deep fry thermometer is not the same as a basic food thermometer. While some food thermometers can reach temperatures up to 400°F, many have a lower maximum temperature, typically around 200°F. This limitation makes them unsuitable for deep frying, where temperatures often exceed 300°F.

Using a deep fry thermometer offers several benefits:

• Consistent Results: By accurately monitoring the oil temperature, you can ensure that each batch of food is cooked at the same temperature, resulting in consistent quality and doneness.
• Prevent Burning: Maintaining the correct oil temperature prevents the food from burning on the outside while remaining raw on the inside.
• Reduce Greasiness: Overheating the oil can cause it to break down and become absorbed into the food, resulting in greasy and unhealthy dishes. A thermometer helps you avoid this by keeping the temperature within the optimal range.
• Safety: Monitoring the oil temperature helps prevent it from reaching its smoke point, reducing the risk of fire and ensuring a safe cooking environment.

When selecting a deep fry thermometer, look for one with a clear and easy-to-read display, a sturdy clip for attaching it to the side of the pot, and a long probe that can reach the center of the oil. Some models may also feature additional features such as adjustable target temperatures and timers.

Investing in a deep fry thermometer is a small but worthwhile investment for any home cook who enjoys preparing fried foods. It takes the guesswork out of deep frying, ensuring perfectly cooked, golden brown, and delicious results every time.

A disher (with a trigger) is sometimes called an ice cream scoop or a scoop with a trigger or ice cream scoops/dishers.

Most of us have a disher at home for ice cream serving, but they are very good for multiple other tasks. A disher helps you to increase your speed and productivity in the kitchen by having uniformed portions with minimum effort and without needing a scale!

They are extremely easy to use for scooping ingredients and releasing thanks to the trigger (does not apply for triggerless ones).

The best for any household would be to have a combination of 3 of the most useful sizes: 1 OZ, 2 OZ, and 4 OZ or 5.33 OZ.

1 OZ disher is best for:

1. Scooping and portioning cookie dough
2. Scooping and portioning deli salads or spreads right on the bread
3. Scooping smaller meatballs
4. Scooping and portioning sour cream (for example, on the top of a soup

2 OZ disher is best for:

1. Scooping and portioning larger meatballs
2. Scooping perfect portions of ice cream
3. Scooping and portioning smaller portions of potato salad
4. Scooping and portioning cookie dough for jumbo cookies
5. Scooping batter for regular cupcakes or muffins

4 OZ or 5.33 OZ disher is best for:

1. Scooping and portioning regular portions of potato salad
2. Creating unified burger patties for beef, veggie, or salmon burgers (and other burgers too)
3. Scooping batter for large cupcakes or muffins
4. Scooping jumbo portions of ice cream

The selection of material is your choice but selecting NSF certified products suitable for restaurants will give you higher durability and a longer lifetime.

A stainless-steel dough cutter is a very effective tool especially for portioning dense dough, ie., pasta dough. It can also be used for shaping and manipulating all other dough, such as bread dough.

However, if you have a denser dough, you can substitute this tool with a knife, but this cutter affords you even more opportunities than a knife. You can use a stainless-steel dough cutter to manipulate your ingredients, shape dough, etc. And keep in mind that the stainless-steel dough cutter is sharp, so it can damage your countertop.

I would recommend this tool only to those who are very frequent bakers– to all others, I would recommend purchasing more bowl scrapers.

A reliable food thermometer is an indispensable tool in any kitchen, and its uses extend far beyond just checking the doneness of meat. It’s a versatile instrument that contributes to food safety, consistency, and culinary success across a wide range of cooking tasks.

While both digital and analog thermometers have their merits, digital models generally offer greater accuracy and ease of use. They provide quick and precise temperature readings with a clear digital display, eliminating the guesswork involved in interpreting analog dials. However, high-quality analog thermometers can also be effective tools if you prefer their classic design and simplicity.

When choosing a food thermometer, consider the temperature range it covers. Most basic models have a range of 50°F to 200°F, which is sufficient for many common cooking applications, such as checking the internal temperature of baked goods, ensuring food safety when reheating leftovers, and monitoring the temperature of liquids for candy making or yeast activation.

If you plan to use your thermometer for deep frying, however, you’ll need a model with a higher temperature range. Deep frying requires oil temperatures between 300°F and 400°F, so your thermometer must be able to accurately measure within this range. Look for thermometers specifically marketed as “deep fry thermometers” or “candy thermometers,” as these are designed to withstand the high temperatures involved.

Here’s a breakdown of why a food thermometer is so valuable in the kitchen:

Food Safety:

• Preventing Foodborne Illness: Using a thermometer to verify that meat, poultry, and fish have reached a safe internal temperature is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses. Each type of food has a specific safe minimum internal temperature that ensures harmful bacteria have been destroyed.
• Safe Handling of Leftovers: Reheating leftovers to the appropriate temperature ensures that they are safe to eat and prevents the growth of bacteria.

Culinary Success:

• Perfect Doneness: Achieving the desired level of doneness for meat, poultry, and fish can be challenging without a thermometer. Overcooking can result in dry, tough meat, while undercooking poses health risks. A thermometer takes the guesswork out of cooking, allowing you to achieve juicy, tender results every time.
• Baking Precision: In baking, temperature accuracy is crucial for success. Using a thermometer to check the temperature of ingredients, such as melted chocolate or sugar syrups, ensures that they are at the correct temperature for optimal results.
• Candy Making: Candy making relies on precise temperature control to achieve the desired consistency and texture. A thermometer is essential for monitoring the temperature of sugar syrups as they boil, ensuring that they reach the correct stage for the recipe.

Investing in a reliable food thermometer, whether digital or analog, is a smart move for any home cook. It’s a versatile tool that promotes food safety, improves cooking accuracy, and unlocks culinary possibilities.

See section “Recommended and Safe Internal Temperatures of Meat and Fish” here.